Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/294

270 HISTORY OP were on their marcli from Delhi to Andes. It was a motley group of lawyers, physicians, merchants, tradesmen, mechanics, and citizens — some on horseback — some on foot, and all armed with warlike weapons of some kind. The Indians, however, becoming aware of the approach of so formidable a foe, dispersed and fled upon their approach, leav- ing Steele and Edgerton masters of the field. The Indians had cherished a strong antipathy against Steele, as may be inferred from the above correspondence, in conse- quence of his having been chiefly instrumental in the arrest of Squires on a bench-warrant, the preceding February. He was well known too, to be a fearless and faithful officer — ever ready and obedient in the performance of his duties, regard- less of smiles or frowns. His life had been repeatedly threat- ened, yet filled with the firm conviction of right, he taunted at their imprecations, and told them that they were disobeying the laws, and as the reward of that disobedience, the claims of justice would sooner or later overtake them. How well his own prophetic words were verified, and how well the dire threats of his life so often thrown in his face were executed, will more fully appear in the progress of the narrative. A few days after Steele had been in limbo at Andes, he was dispatched upon a second expedition to Eoxbury, for the account of which, the author is indebted to the following corres- pondence of the Albany Argus : "Delhi, March 15, 1845, 10 o'clock P. M. " Dear Sir, — Yesterday morning, being the day after the return of the sheriff^ s posse from Kortright, another posse of about eighty mounted men, in two detachments, under the command of deputy sheriff" Osman N. Steele, and Erastus S. Edgerton, started from Delhi for Eoxbury, by diff'erent routes, for the purpose of making arrests. As that town is the most turbulent part of the anti-rent district, where large numbers